Mastering Rocks & Roots
Learn to ride rocky & rooty trails with confidence & commitment
Do you stiffen up at the sight of greasy, wet roots up ahead? Do your wheels slip and spin regardless of what line you take? Do you sometimes walk technical sections whilst others ride them with ease? What about rocks? Does a rubble strewn trail fill you with horror and do you cringe at the sight of a rocky step?
If this sounds like you then perhaps our Mastering Rocks & Roots course might be able to help. Our highly experienced mountain bike coaches will take you through the techniques necessary to flow over rocks and roots effortlessly, to pick the perfect line for maximum traction and to think yourself through to the other side.
After the course you will be able to ride both wet and dry roots with confidence, tackle rocky steps with ease, pick the fastest line in all conditions and to sail over complex terrain with control and commitment.
"I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the Mastering Rocks & Roots course yesterday. Jess was a great instructor, providing a good balance of tuition versus practice."
Richard - Guildford
Course outline
The skills taught and practiced on this skills course include:
- Bike Set-up
Pre-ride checks
Choosing the right tyre pressures
Dropper posts usage and set-up
Choosing the right suspension set-up
- Mind Skills
Relaxing on the bike and staying loose
Riding within yourself to stay in control
Positive thinking and visualisation
Dismissing distractions to maintain concentration and commitment
Developing confidence through fundamentals instead of luck
- Body Position & Movement
Weighting & unweighting the bike
- Speed Control
Speed management on steep terrain
Maintaining speed over rocks and roots
- Trail Obstacles
Using Manual Front Wheel Lifts to negotiate obstacles
Manual dropping roots and steps
Powered front wheel lifts and rear wheel lifts
- Climbing & Descending
Climbing with speed & efficiency
Maximizing grip and traction
- Trail Flow
Reading and breaking down the trail into sections
Attacking vs. defensive lines
Is this course right for me?
Please read the following description. If this sounds like you, then you're perfect for this course:
- You're fairly new to mountain biking or have not been riding off-road regularily for more than a year or so
- You have may have tried green, blue or even red graded singletrack trails before at a trail centre or similar venue
- You can already ride a bike and are familiar with the usage of your gears and brakes
- You can already ride comfortably on smooth trails such as tow paths, forest roads and easy bridleways
- You participate in formal exercise at least once per week, though not necessarily on a bike
- You can ride on flat or moderately steep terrain at a steady pace
- You can ride for at least two hours comfortably
- You are aged 18 and over unless accompanied by an adult also participating on the course
If this sounds beyond your current skill and fitness level, please choose our Singletrack Foundations day course instead. If a little basic, please choose our Singletrack Improver course instead or have a look at our choosing the right course FAQ page.
Typical programme
Morning or afternoon sessions are available usually keeping to the following programmes:
Morning programme
- 09:15-09:30 Arrival at course venue
- 09:30-09:45 Course commences, introductions and equipment check
- 09:45-13:00 Singletrack skills coaching and practice
- 13:00 Course ends
Afternoon programme
- 13:45-14:00 Arrival at course venue
- 14:00-14:15 Course commences, introductions and equipment check
- 14:15-17:30 Singletrack skills coaching and practice
- 17:30 Course ends
